Some people are born with a close connection to wine. It includes not only drinking wine but also cooking with it, regular visits to wineries, and storing antique unopened bottles. If this sounds like you, maybe you should become a sommelier who can tell you about a wine's ingredients, origin, and likely alcohol level with only a sip. It is a field that, like every other, needs instruction and hands-on experience to master.
1. Develop Your Taste
A skilled sommelier should have a good sense of taste and be able to identify a type of wine just by tasting or smelling it. It is a skill that can only be gained by direct experience and cannot be learned solely in a classroom or through a textbook. With enough practice, you could be able to tell the difference between vanilla and clove in terms of texture and flavor. Make lots of notes during your various trial stages of wine tasting, specifically when you detect a specific flavor of a particular wine.
Splash the wine around in your mouth when you sip it, paying attention to any strange textures. Learn how to tell the difference between rich and creamy textures in wine, as well as light and sharp flavors. If the wine is smooth, hefty, or tannic, make a note of it. Be aware of the aftertaste when you take the sip. Is it a smooth or strong finish? Is it making you want to take another sip?
2. Identify Important Wine Regions
The United States, Spain, France, Argentina, and Italy are the world's finest wine producers. However, it is essential to become aware of the following features:
● The location of the top wineries in a country's state, county, or district.
● The kind of wine produced in each of these regions
● Are there any special ingredients used in this area?
● Any brewing techniques that were applied
● The business of the wine industry and its impact on the output of the local region
If at all feasible, go to these places on your own. Many wineries have free tours that include wine tastings and discussions with distillery employees. If traveling isn't an alternative, go to your local bookshop and learn about the best brands from all over the world.
3. Learn How to Pour and Serve Wine Correctly
To be a fountain of knowledge on the topic of wine is remarkable, but it isn't the only quality a sommelier must know. Being an expert wine server is also a requirement of the job. It extends beyond bartending's responsibilities. You could be required to uncork & serve the bottle in a particular style that expresses grace and elegance, and this method may vary by region. It may be beneficial to polish up on hosting and serving manners in order to guarantee that the overall elegant effect is achieved.
4. Increase Your Knowledge And understanding
Try looking for work or an internship as a waiter in a restaurant, pub, hotel, or caterer service that offers wine. Though such a position may look to be a step-down–especially if you have a successful career in another field–keep in mind that mastering anything requires starting small. The hotel industry serves as a sort of sommelier training camp, where you can gain experience. It's also the time when you'll figure out whether or not this is a field you'd be interested in pursuing as a profession.
5. Receive the certification
To be clear, no formal education or certification is required to work in the industry. Getting the training and a certificate to prove it, on the other hand, increases your status and sets you apart from the competitors. You can take a variety of sommelier courses, to some of the most basic ones being offered at community colleges.
Remember that a reputable course needs on-the-job training at a physical location. Be careful of classes that claim to have all of the material available online. It is essential to be in the presence of the product and be able to smell and taste it; then, it is to read about it in an online course. A reputable course can also be recognized by its affiliation with a legal wine or culinary association.
However, most sommelier schools also provide a variety of options based on your goals. Academic programs on wine as it relates to certain geographical locations may fall under this category. There may be classes specifically designed for those who want to career in a winery or related industry as management.